If you've had the pleasure of living in the downtown core over the past few years, you have most likely witnessed the mass hysteria that arrives each September with the commencement of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Hollywood movie stars, directors, personalities and socialites flock to Toronto, and we all (whether you admit it or not) relish in the subsequent ego boost. While historically we've seen hotels and restaurants associating themselves with the film festival, we have recently witnessed a shift towards condominiums capitalizing on this film fever.

This instalment of Project of the Day looks at the Cinema Tower, developed by the Daniels Corporation and designed by Kirkor Architects. The tower's association with TIFF is more than just a name. With a prime location directly north of the official TIFF headquarters at the Bell Lightbox and Festival Tower, Cinema Tower offers potential purchasers the glamour of TIFF living, if they missed out at their chance to grab a suite at the Lightbox’s Festival Tower. Cinema Tower signals just how much enthusiasm Daniels received in regards to the Festival Tower, with Cinema Tower offering many of the same insider benefits Festival Tower purchasers received.

Cinema Tower by the Daniels Corporation

The design complements the Festival Tower without replicating it. A six-storey podium is visually separated from the tower through a unique choice of materials, while the tower is divided vertically by a striking wall which, upon reaching the roof line, extends horizontally and finishes with a curve mirroring that seen on the podium's roof directly below. Kirkor has designed an impressive high rise that will most definitely bring variety to the skyline, as well as leave us with a unique streetscape on the ground level.

Northwest corner of Cinema Tower condos by The Daniels Corporation, image by Craig White

The artistically-designed podium will contain an above-ground parking garage, residents' lobby, retail, and a performance space that will be managed by Artscape. The inclusion of Artscape brings the organization’s performance space directly under the watchful eye of TIFF, and we can expect to see some great collaborations arise through their prime location in the Theatre District. The ability to include such a variety of uses also provides a great example for future developments: a residential high rise can serve more than just those who live in the building, especially in the downtown core.

Cinema Tower Podium Detail, image courtesy of The Daniels Corporation

Of course, most of the recent forum discussion has centred on the progress of construction. Some great images have been posted over the course of the summer and fall, giving a snapshot of the construction process. Below is the most recent construction update, from Forum member Red Mars.

Construction on Cinema Tower as of October 24, image courtesy of Red Mars

Judging by the success of the Festival Tower, its sister project Cinema Tower will serve as a beacon of all things TIFF upon completion. For more information on the project, check out our dataBase listing below; or, if you'd like to see how the project is progressing or join the discussion, click here for the project's Forum page.

Related Companies:  Isotherm Engineering Ltd., Jablonsky, Ast and Partners, NAK Design Strategies, NEEZO Studios, Skyscapes, The Fence People